Small Bodies
About
LPL has long been a leader in researching the small bodies of the solar system. Active research includes:
- Two world-renowned groundbased asteroid survey programs: SPACEWATCH®, directed by Dr. Melissa Brucker, claims a number of firsts in hunting for small bodies, many related to being the first to use CCD-scanning routinely; and Catalina Sky Survey, under the direction of Eric Christensen, has led the world in asteroid discoveries each year since 2005.
- The first American asteroid sample-return mission. OSIRIS-REx, with Professor Dante Lauretta as the Principal Investigator, was launched in 2016, arrived at asteroid Bennu in 2018, began its return to Earth in 2021, and is on track for Fall 2023 delivery.
- The OSIRIS-APEX mission, led by Assistant Professor Dani DellaGiustina, will reprise the discoveries of the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft at a second asteroid, Apophis.
- Several groups active in meteorite research, led by professors Jessica Barnes, Pierre Haenecour, Dante Lauretta, and Tom Zega.
- Research into the orbital evolution of the main asteroid belt and the Kuiper Belt, led by Regents Professor Renu Malhotra.
- LPL also has a long history of comet research, which continues with new and ongoing studies by Professor Walter Harris and Professor Emeritus Uwe Fink.
Faculty
Small Bodies Faculty
Erik Asphaug
Professor
William Boynton
Professor Emeritus
Dani Mendoza DellaGiustina
Assistant Professor, Deputy Principal Investigator, OSIRIS-REx, Principal Investigator, OSIRIS-APEX
Uwe Fink
Professor Emeritus
Pierre Haenecour
Assistant Professor
Walter Harris
Professor
Ellen Howell
Research Professor
Dante Lauretta
Director, Arizona Astrobiology Center, Principal Investigator, OSIRIS-REx, Regents Professor
Amy Mainzer
Principal Investigator, NEOWISE and NEO Surveyor, Professor
Renu Malhotra
Louise Foucar Marshall Science Research Professor, Regents Professor
Angela Marusiak
Assistant Research Professor
Robert (Bob) McMillan
Research Professor (Retired)
Michael Nolan
Deputy Principal Investigator, OSIRIS-APEX, Research Professor
Vishnu Reddy
Professor
Timothy Swindle
Professor Emeritus
Tom Zega
Professor
Other Researchers
Small Bodies Researchers
Namya Baijal
PTYS Graduate Student
Adam Battle
PTYS Graduate Student
Jacob Bernal
DCC Postdoctoral Research Associate (Zega), NSF Postdoctoral Fellow
Melissa Brucker
Principal Investigator, Spacewatch, Research Scientist
David Cantillo
PTYS Graduate Student
Rishi Chandra
PTYS Graduate Student
Laura Chaves
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Matthew Chojnacki
DCC Associate Research (McEwen)
Jason Corliss
Research Scientist/Senior Staff Scientist
Samuel Crossley
Researcher/Scientist
Adeene Denton
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Ruby Fulford
PTYS Graduate Student
Carson Fuls
Director, Catalina Sky Survey, PTYS Graduate Student
Tommy Grav
Research Scientist/Senior Staff Scientist
Devin Hoover
PTYS Graduate Student
Kana Ishimaru
PTYS Graduate Student
Steve Larson
Research Scientist/Senior Staff Scientist
Cassandra Lejoly
Research Scientist/Observer, Spacewatch
Kiana McFadden
PTYS Graduate Student
Robert Melikyan
PTYS Graduate Student
Samuel Myers
PTYS Graduate Student
Stephen Schwartz
DCC Associate Staff Scientist (Asphaug)
Sarah Sutton
Photogrammetry Program Lead, HiRISE, Researcher/Scientist
Harry Tang
PTYS Graduate Student
Support Staff
Small Bodies Support Staff
Dolores Hill
Research Specialist, Senior
Todd Horne
R&D Engineer/Scientist, NEO Surveyor